My gaze fell upon the tombstone, but I didn't immediately read the inscription. The position of the tombstone was simple, yet its function was significant. The door could only be pushed inward; it couldn't be opened outward because it was blocked by the tombstone.
Is it just the simple literal meaning, "enter and never return"?
Take another look at the inscription on the tombstone.
The previous section was filled with deep and arcane terms, and I find it difficult to grasp the meaning.
The latter part was slightly more concise, but before I could finish reading, Old Gong made a chewing sound and said, "That's really harsh..."
"How could it be like this…" Muying's expression was particularly blank.
By this point, I have understood the content of the latter part.
It means that to seek the ultimate Dao, the ultimate realm, the strength to break all shackles, one must have the determination to forget oneself and shape oneself anew.
The method of seeking disciples by the High Heaven Temple is unique, because when heaven bestows great responsibilities upon a person, it must certainly subject their will to suffering, and strain their muscles and bones...
After enduring the refining process of entering the Dao, one must make a choice between the upper and lower doors. Before entering the inner door, there will be another opportunity given to them. If they repent, they can still return and become ordinary disciples to search for new disciples outside the outer door. In this way, they will still receive the favor and teachings of the High Heaven Temple.
The practice of the inner door is more monotonous, indifferent, and only the most outstanding ones can receive the inheritance from the High Heaven Dao and control the High Heaven Dao Temple.
For a moment, I was speechless.
Muying spoke of the High Heaven Dao Temple selecting those who could be used for borrowing a body and restoring their soul.
I also analyzed earlier that the ultimate result for those who continued on was death.
To be borrowed for the body and restored, of course, is to die.
But the tombstone tells those seeking Dao that they will receive inheritance.
This is a brazen, naked lie!
"Yang Gujin, enter the temple." I whispered in a low voice: "The dangers inside are greater, we must find him as soon as possible. Even if he wants to take away those souls, with the four rules mirror he will be able to help him."
"The longer we spend here, the more likely it is that the Twin Monk will notice something amiss and go to wait for us at the exit of Gao Tian Temple, which would be a great loss."
There is no going back, so Yang Gujin cannot die.
Reaching out, I pushed the stone door with force, and in the deep sound, the inside was once again shrouded in darkness, as if all light sources had been siphoned away.
Muying threw a piece of fluorescent stick out, but the stick didn't light up...
She sent in two more reeds and her face immediately changed, her expression full of anxiety as she told me the reeds showed no reaction.
I frowned and took out the four rules mirror, shining it on the empty passage.
Luckily, the four rules mirror showed no reaction.
Only then did I nod to Muying and step into the temple first.
After Muying entered, I released my grip, and the stone door slowly closed...
"Old Gong, keep an eye on the situation," I whispered to Old Gong.
But Old Gong did not respond to me.
"Old Gong?" Muying called out with caution.
Old Gong still showed no reaction.
My expression changed.
It's just that everything is pitch black in front of me, and I can't see anything, let alone what condition Old Gong is in.
Instinctively reaching out, I followed the sound and movement, trying to determine Muying's position, and held her hand.
Muying quivered slightly and then followed me forward.
In the complete darkness, I was afraid that something might suddenly appear beside me and also worried about stepping into a void.
Luckily, the darkness did not last long and gradually lifted.
The source of light appeared once again on both sides of the walls, but... it wasn't a normal lamp, but rather three turned-over heads, mouths, and eyes with three holes each, twisting the light core and emitting a faint blue light.
I checked Muying's waistline first. There was nothing in her night pot, and I couldn't see any sign of Old Gong.
"Mudan... there are so many talismans..." Muying's expression changed slightly as she looked down.
I also noticed that there were indeed many talismans on the ground, all deeply etched into the stone slabs.
That's why Old Gong didn't appear.
That's why the reeds didn't work.
It turns out it's because of the talismans...
But why is it still so dark here? Why is there light only at this place?
Twisting my head, I look in the direction of the other end of the channel.
It's probably two or three meters away from here to the outside of the passage.
That is a spacious area filled with various cabinets, and it seems to contain all sorts of books.
I was thoughtful. This place, is it truly meant for serious cultivation of Dao? To select those who can be borrowed for soul restoration, one must truly nurture a few?
"Hurry up, Yang Gujin might have already passed through here." I slightly urged.
Together with Muying, we quickly walked out of the passage, but as soon as we stepped out, I sensed a strong sense of heart-pounding and icy coldness!
There were no ghosts in the passage, and even Old Gong couldn't appear.
This made me instinctively think that the place with cabinets and books couldn't have ghosts either.
It's just that this heart-pounding and icy coldness comes from an extremely dense, even solidifying, yin energy!
Everything in front of me was tinged with a faint blood color, as if floating with a blue mist. With these two mists mixed together, the cabinets appeared to be visible and invisible.
Old Gong instantly appeared in the night pot, continuously making "sua, sua" sounds, with a terrified expression on his ghostly face.
He looked up sharply, and I instantly understood, looking up as well.
The ceiling above us was completely flat and smooth, but there was a person wearing a Daoist robe lying down, with his limbs twisted and contorted in an abnormal way, hanging from the ceiling. His eyes were staring at us rigidly, making him look extremely hollow.
The blood color flashed through his eyes, and he dived down fiercely, aiming to penetrate into Muying's body!
"Get out of my way!" I shouted, and a half-foot-long copper sword suddenly swung out!
No spells, just a clean, swift slash.
The person disappeared with a bang, turning into a gray mist.
However, a coldness suddenly emerged from my right side, a strong gust of wind directed towards the back of my ears.
In front of me, another person appeared behind Muying. This person had a long face and small eyes, extremely ugly, also wearing a Daoist robe. He suddenly grabbed Muying's neck with both hands.
Old Gong suddenly opened his mouth, and an arm shot out from it. Wei Youming's arm leaped up and grabbed the ghostly thing by the neck, pushing it hard backward.
I swing my half-foot copper sword towards the right shoulder and upper above!
With a slight thud, I quickly turned my head, seeing only a gray mist dissipating.
"Mixed with so many ghosts..." Muying was frightened, looking pale as if her beauty had faded.
My expression was equally unpleasant. Before coming in, I thought this place was meant for people to study the Dao.
How did it end up like this just by standing here?
In the blink of an eye, three ghosts appeared, all of them blood-grieving spirits...
The constantly trembling light blue mist seems to indicate that a retribution ghost will appear at any moment!
This is not about teaching people the Dao; it's just about killing.
Spending so much effort to select a group of people and send them down, is that to let them die?
"Old Gong, what should we do?" Muying was trying to hold back her anxious tone.
Old Gong was still making "sua, sua" sounds continuously.
He wore a mournful expression and muttered: "What to do? Old Gong doesn't know what to do either..."
Wei Youming's arm was at his head, and his fingers were gently tapping on his forehead.
Old Gong's muttering didn't stop: "It's not to kill everyone who comes in here... There must be a way to get past it... The people sent down here in the past knew, Yang Gujin may know, but we don't know..."
"Dead lamb's head, left alone and ran..."
Old Gong's eyes were nearly popping out of his head.
